This classic look at old Toronto portrays scenes of public life from 1860 to 1950; illustrating how dramatically the urban fabric and environment have changed.
#2607576 in eBooks 2012-12-11 2012-12-11File Name: B00AHGGORA
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Landmark work; summative of its timeBy Benn PamphleteerIn writing the Transit Metropolis; Robert Cervero did a great job of stating and providing examples for the proposition that transit; land use and urban planning must be coordinated and share the same goals in order to be successful. The definition of success is a publicly accessible (as distinct from publicly owned); useful; and integrated transit system that both is a response to and a determinant of the built environment.After laying out his proposition; he provides a rich set of examples; case studies from cities around the world where a successful transit metropolis has emerged; either through a transit system adapted to its environment; a built environment adapted to its transit system; or by adaptations of both transit and the environment. He also takes as separate examples of success those metropolises where a strong central core city has been both the focus of transit development and the benefactor of transit as a factor in the center citys revitalization.The book is optimistic about the future of transit metropolises built on the basis of careful planning as desirable; attractive places to live; even though they imply higher population densities than most of us in the US associate with gracious living. Follow the plan; have patience and visionary leadership; and the future need not be degraded by slavish reliance on the automobile.It is now 12 years since the books publication. In that time; the world of the new millennium has unfolded as no one expected in 1998. Public suspicion of planning and political institutions; especially land use planning; is much stronger than it was two presidential administrations ago. Economic slowing has left most governmental bodies with crushing debt instead of developmental funding. Though this may impact the further development of automobile facilities; it has a particular impact on the kind of comprehensive regional planning the author sees as a critical component of success. Its unclear whether cities; at least here in the US; presently have the political will to act on such a scale in the absence of an immediate crisis. Still; the book provides a clear set of guidelines for implementing an integrated transit metropolis; based on detailed analysis of successes from around the world. Its still worth reading.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good compilation of global experiencesBy Lim Eng HwaA good compilation of what is happening around the world for those interested in transit planning.Easy reading also for a more casual audience.Perhaps some information are outdated; so a companion website could help to keep things current.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent case studies; a bit outdated.By PostGraderExcellent book; just a little bit outdated now. Cervero is a leader in the field of public transit; and I hope he comes out with another edition of this book.